Massive Wildfires Batter France, Threatening Nuclear and Defense Facilities Near Bordeaux

Massive wildfires sweeping across southwestern France have approached defense hubs, including nuclear facilities, putting authorities on high alert to block the flames.

The western region of Bordeaux, which is most vulnerable to the wildfire risk, is densely packed with defense and aerospace industry facilities.

In particular, core plants responsible for producing M51 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and supplying fuel are located in an area where authorities issued a preemptive evacuation order on the 25th.

ArianeGroup, the aerospace and defense company that owns the facilities, stated that personnel have been evacuated from all affected facilities and that all necessary measures to protect the infrastructure have been implemented.

The company added that it is closely cooperating with local and central governments to manage the situation.

Near Bordeaux is also a French nuclear research facility equipped with the Laser Mégajoule, a large-scale device used to simulate nuclear tests.

The Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) of France stated that while there is no risk of radioactive leakage as the facility contains no nuclear material, the site has been completely closed due to the wildfire.

The CEA explained that local security personnel are engaged in emergency response and that additional personnel will be deployed if necessary.

Local firefighting authorities emphasized that protecting these strategic facilities is their most critical mission after saving lives.

Firefighters are carrying out civil engineering work to build firebreaks around the sensitive facilities while clearing surrounding grass and trees to eliminate fuel for the spreading flames.

The French military also stated that it is supporting firefighting operations by deploying specialists and equipment to the scene to help protect the industrial facilities.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.